Curved tape and women&#39;s clothing with cup employing curved tape

ABSTRACT

Provided are a curved tape capable of maintaining a curved shape without use of a wire, and cup-possessing women&#39;s clothing employing the curved tape. 
     A curved tape  14  has a multi-ply woven fabric consisting of a plurality of textile weaves  71, 72  superposed in a thickness direction Z, and is curved in a width direction X, and the multi-ply woven fabric  70  is configured so that curve inside portions  71   i   , 72   i  have a higher elasticity than curve outside portions  71   o   , 72   o . Since this configuration provides the curve inside portions  71   i,    72   i  with the higher elasticity than that of the curve outside portions  71   o   , 72   o , the tape is shaped in a curved state and the curved shape is maintained. For this reason, there is no need for maintaining the curved state by insertion of a wire as employed before, and the suitable curved tape  14  is substantialized so as to fit along an inferior edge of a cup portion. Furthermore, the curved tape can be manufactured without a work stage for insertion of a wire.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a curved tape and cup-possessing women's clothing employing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a conventional brassiere with cup portions to cover breasts, in which a hollow weave tape for a wire loop with a hollow tube for insertion of the wire is sewn along a curved portion at the inferior edge of each cup portion (e.g., cf. Patent Literature 1). In this hollow weave tape for the wire loop described in Patent Literature 1, warps include yarns with high elasticity in a higher density on the non-sewn side of the hollow tube for insertion of the wire.

This hollow weave tape itself for the wire loop is shaped in a linear state and the curved wire is inserted into the hollow tube to expand the outside region in a bending direction, whereby the hollow weave tape becomes deformed so as to follow the curvature of the wire.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open     Publication No. 11-100704

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the case of the conventional brassiere as described above, however, the wire inserted in the hollow weave tape for the wire loop could break the tape to be exposed to the outside. Even if the wire in the hollow weave tape for the wire loop was held without directly touching the skin, a wearer could feel uncomfortable therewith.

The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a curved tape capable of maintaining a curved shape without use of a wire, and cup-possessing women's clothing employing the curved tape.

Solution to Problem

The inventors conducted diligent research to achieve the foregoing object and discovered that when a tape had a multi-ply woven fabric comprising a plurality of textile weaves superposed in a thickness direction and had a higher elasticity on one side than on the other side in a width direction, it could be shaped as curved so that the one side having the higher elasticity is located inside.

Then a curved tape according to the present invention is a curved tape having a multi-ply woven fabric comprising a plurality of textile weaves superposed in a thickness direction, and curved in a width direction, wherein the multi-ply woven fabric has a curve inside region with a higher elasticity than an elasticity of a curve outside region.

When the curved tape is configured as described above, the curve inside region has the higher elasticity than the curve outside region and thus the tape is shaped in a curved state, so as to maintain the curved shape. This eliminates a need for maintaining the curved state by insertion of the wire as employed before, and the suitable curved tape is substantialized so as to fit along the inferior edge of the cup portion. Furthermore, it allows elimination of a work stage for insertion of the wire as needed before.

Preferably, hot melt yarns are used as wefts of the textile weaves, a rate of use of hot melt yarns among warps of the textile weaves is larger in the curve outside region than in the curve inside region, and the multi-ply woven fabric is treated by a heat treatment process. Since the hot melt yarns are used for the warps as described above, the hot melt yarns can be thermally fused (or bonded) to each other by execution of the heat treatment process, which permits free cutting and prevents unraveling from raw edge. Since the hot melt yarns are used for the warps and wefts and the rate of use of the hot melt yarns among the warps is larger in the curve outside region than in the curve inside region, the hot melt yarns can be thermally fused to each other by the heat treatment process and the multi-ply woven fabric has the curve inside region with the higher elasticity than that of the curve outside region so as to be shaped in the curved state. Namely, when the curve inside region is made using the warps with lower settability and the curve outside region is made using the warps with higher settability, the curve inside region can expand and contract more than the curve outside region. The heat treatment process may include a dyeing process.

A preferred configuration is such that the curved tape comprises a plurality of interfacing members arranged between the plurality of textile weaves and extending in a longitudinal direction. This configuration allows the curvature and elasticity to be controlled by adjusting positions and use rates of the interfacing members (interfacing yarns).

Preferably, a side end region having a smaller number of warps than the multi-ply woven fabric is formed on the curve inside region. This configuration provides a wrinkle clearance inside the curve and thus can prevent wrinkles from being formed in the curve inside region.

Preferably, the textile weaves are plain weave fabrics in which the warps and the wefts are vertically interwoven. The textile weaves may be other weave fabrics, for example, twill, satin, or other weaves, and may be double weaves, warp backed weaves, weft backed weaves, and so on.

For solving the aforementioned problem, a piece of cup-possessing women's clothing according to the present invention is a cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined above; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.

In the cup-possessing women's garment configured as described above, the curved tape has the curve inside region with the higher elasticity than that of the curve outside region and thus is shaped in the curved state, so as to maintain the curved shape. This eliminates the need for maintaining the curved state by insertion of the wire as employed before. Since the curved tape in this configuration is attached so as to fit along the inferior edge of the cup portions, this curved tape suitably maintains the shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions. Since the tape is suitably curved using the nonmetal materials only, without use of the wire, a wearer will be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to the wire.

Preferably, the curved tape has a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions, and is attached as expanded so as to fit along the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions. This allows creation of the inferior edge shape of the cup portions having the suitable curved shape along an outline under a bust, so called a verge's line. The “cup portions” are portions to cover breasts and may be made of a material independent of the other portions or a material continuous from the other portions. For example, in the case of a T-shirt or the like, a portion facing the bust is also included in the “cup portions.”

Advantageous Effects of Invention

Since the curved tape according to the present invention has the curve inside region with the higher elasticity than that of the curve outside region in the width direction and is curved in the width direction, it can be suitably curved using the nonmetal materials only, without the use of the wire. Furthermore, there is no need for insertion of the wire, which allows elimination of the work stage for insertion of the wire as needed before.

Since the women's garment according to the present invention comprises the curved tape which is curved without the use of the wire and which is attached along the inferior edge of the cup portions, a wearer will be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to the wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a back view of a brassiere with tapes for inferior edges of cup portions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tape for an inferior edge of a cup portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a plain weave fabric in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 includes (A) a plan view showing the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion in a normal state, and (B) a plan view showing the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion in a state in which it is expanded so as to fit along a curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portion.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing relations among warps and wefts in the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to an example of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the curved tape and cup-possessing women's clothing employing the same according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment will describe a brassiere which is a cup-possessing women's garment employing tapes for inferior edges (lower sides) of cup portions which are curved tapes.

FIG. 1 is a back view of a brassiere with tapes for inferior edges of cup portions according to an embodiment of the present invention. The brassiere 1 shown in FIG. 1 is suitable for sports use; e.g., it is worn during sports activity. This brassiere 1 consists of a pair of right and left cup portions 10, side panel portions 20, back portions 30, shoulder straps 40, and a front connection 50.

The cup portions 10 are made of a material with certain levels of shape retention and elasticity, e.g., like nonwoven fabric or expanded polyurethane, are adapted to cover breasts from the front, and have such a bowl shape as to fit the shape of wearer's breasts. A superior edge portion 11 of each cup portion 10 has a first portion 11 a curved corresponding to the breast shape from the center to the lateral superior side of the brassiere 1, and a second portion 11 b continuous from the side to the upper center of the breast, and these first portion 11 a and second portion 11 b form a top region extending upward. An inferior edge portion 12 of each cup portion 10 is formed as curved downward so as to fit a verge's line of the bust. This inferior edge portion 12 is provided with a tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion (which will be detailed below).

Each side panel portion 20 is formed continuously from the side of the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10 toward the back. This side panel portion 20 is made of an inelastic or poorly-elastic material with flexibility and shape retention and is sewn to the side of the inferior edge portion 12 in the cup portion 10. This side panel portion 20 has an approximately triangular shape which gradually decreases the width in the vertical direction from the inferior edge portion 12 side toward the back. An inferior edge portion 20 a of the side panel portion 20 extends approximately horizontally from a sewn part to the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion and a superior edge portion 20 b of the side panel portion 20 extends obliquely downward from a side end 14 a in the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion.

Each back portion 30 is formed continuously from the side panel portion 20 and formed horizontally in a beltlike shape from the side toward the back of the wearer. The back portion 30 is made of an elastic material, e.g., power net. A hook fastener 31 is provided at the back ends of the back portions 30 and the right and left back portions 30 are to be detachably coupled to each other through the hook fastener 31.

Each shoulder strap 40 is connected to the upper part (top part) of the cup portion 10 and to the back portion 30 and stretches so as to connect the upper part of the cup portion 10 and the back side of the back portion 30. A length adjuster 41 is disposed midway in the shoulder strap 40 thereby to allow adjustment of length to a wearer's figure.

The front connection 50 is a portion that connects the right and left cup portions 10, 10 to each other on the wearer's front side. The front connection 50 is made of an inelastic or poorly-elastic material with flexibility and shape retention and is sewn to the central sides of the inferior edge portions 12 in the cup portions 10.

The following will describe the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion provided at the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 a transverse sectional view of the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 a schematic plan view of a plain weave fabric in FIG. 3. The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is curved in such an arcuate shape as to follow the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10 and is sewn to the skin side of the inferior edge portion 12.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion, as shown in FIG. 3, has a two-ply woven fabric (multi-ply woven fabric) 70 consisting of a plurality of plain weave fabrics (textile weaves) 71, 72 superposed in the thickness direction (vertical direction) Z. The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion has an upper plain weave fabric 71 arranged on the illustrated upper side, and a lower plain weave fabric 72 arranged on the illustrated lower side. The upper plain weave fabric 71 constitutes a surface to be brought into contact with the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10 and the lower plain weave fabric 72 does a surface to be brought into contact with the wearer's skin. In the description hereinafter, the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72 will be referred to as plain weave fabrics 71, 72 unless they need to be discriminated from each other.

The plain weave fabrics 71, 72, as shown in FIG. 2, are configured so that curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i forming an inside region in the curve direction (width direction X) have a higher elasticity than curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o forming an outside region in the curve direction. In other words, the plain weave fabrics 71, 72 have their respective configurations of the different elasticities in the longitudinal direction Y on one side and on the other side with respect to a center Xo in the width direction X of the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion. Namely, when the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is divided (or cut) along the widthwise center and when the elongations of the plain weave fabrics 71, 72 are compared, it is confirmed that the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i have the higher elasticity than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is dimensioned as follows: the inside diameter D is, for example, 10-15 cm; the width W 11-13 mm. The inside diameter D may be, for example, 8.2 cm or any other length. Likewise, the width W may also be any other length.

The plain weave fabrics 71, 72 are configured, as shown in FIG. 4, so that in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i wefts 73 and warps 74 are vertically interwoven with each other and so that in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o wefts 73 and warps 75 are vertically interwoven with each other. FIG. 4 is depicted without illustration of later-described warps 77, for clarity of the drawing.

Hot melt yarns, which melt to adhere with heat, are used for the wefts 73 of the plain weave fabrics 71, 72. The “hot melt yarns” are yarns with a high hot-melt property that melt to adhere at a predetermined temperature (e.g., about 110-130° C., preferably 115° C.). In the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion, covered yarns with high settability are used as the hot melt yarns of wefts 73. The melting temperature of the hot melt yarns may be any other temperature.

Non-hot melt yarns are used for the warps 74 in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i of the plain weave fabrics 71, 72. The “non-hot melt yarns” are yarns that do not melt or hardly melt to adhere at a predetermined temperature (e.g., 110-130° C.) and that have a low hot-melt property. In the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion, covered yarns with low settability are used as the non-hot melt yarns of warps 74 in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i. The present embodiment employs, for example, 840-denier covered yarns with the draft of 2.3 times (set draft on the covering machine) as the low-settability covered yarns.

Hot melt yarns are used for the warps 75 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o of the plain weave fabrics 71, 72. In the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion, covered yarns with high settability are used as the hot melt yarns of warps 75 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o. The present embodiment employs, for example, 200-denier covered yarns with the draft of 2.0 times (set draft on the covering machine) as the high-settability covered yarns.

A plurality of interfacing yarns (interfacing members) 76 extending in the longitudinal direction Y of the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion are arranged between the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72. The interfacing members 76 applicable herein are, for example, wooly nylon yarns. The interfacing members 76 are arranged mainly in the curve outside region and are also arranged partly in the curve inside region with respect to the center. The interfacing members 76 are held in close contact between the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72 are connected by yarns 77 to constitute the two-ply woven fabric 70 consisting of the plain weave fabrics superposed in the thickness direction (illustrated vertical direction). There are a plurality of yarns 77 arranged to connect the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72. The yarns 77 are arranged at the two ends in the width direction X, near the center Xo in the width direction, in the center of the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i, between the interfacing yarns 76 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, and so on.

A side end region 78 with a smaller number of yarns 74 than the two-ply woven fabric 70 is formed at the inside end in the curve direction of the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion. This side end region 78 is formed continuously inward in the curve direction from the lower plain weave fabric 72 and functions as a portion to absorb wrinkles. This prevents wrinkles from appearing in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion as described above is manufactured by a weaving machine and is shaped in a curved state after woven. The curved shape can be regulated by changing feeds of yarns during manufacture of the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion. Although it depends on the combination of set draft of the covered yarns, the amount of the feed of the inside yarns in the curve direction is set less than that of the outside yarns in the curve direction, whereby tension gets higher in the inside yarns so as to facilitate contraction thereof.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is heated (e.g., at 110-130° C., preferably 115° C.), by a dyeing process (heat treatment process) to melt and adhere the wefts 73 and warps 75 of hot melt yarns. After the yarns 75 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o are melted to adhere in this manner, the difference between elasticities inside and outside in the width direction becomes larger. For this reason, the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion becomes suitably curved. Since the wefts 73 are melted to adhere, it is feasible to prevent unraveling from raw edge and permit free cutting.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion in this configuration to be used is one having the radius of curvature smaller than that of the curved shape of the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10. FIG. 5 includes (A) a plan view showing the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion in a normal state, and (B) a plan view showing the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion in a state in which it is expanded so as to fit along the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portion.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is expanded outward in the curve direction so as to fit along the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portion 10 and is sewn to the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10. In a state in which the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is sewn to the cup portion 10, the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is likely to contract inward in the curve direction, whereas the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10 is likely to expand outward in the curve direction; therefore, the interactive forces can retain the favorable shape to fit a breast. The shape of the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10 can be controlled by changing the curvature of the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion.

As described above, the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is made using the warps 74, 75 of different thicknesses in the inside region and the outside region in the width direction X. Since the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i are made using the thicker (larger denier) warps 74 than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i have greater restoring nature (stronger power) and are more likely to contract and expand than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, whereby the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion becomes curved.

In the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion, the inside region and the outside region in the width direction X are made of the warps 74, 75 with the different set draft. Since the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i use the warps 74 with the larger set draft than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i are more likely to contract and expand than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, whereby the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion becomes curved.

In the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion, since the heat treatment process results in melting and adhering the warps in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o while not melting to adhere the warps in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i, the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i are more likely to contract and expand than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, whereby the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion becomes curved.

Since the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion in this configuration has the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i with the higher elasticity than the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, it is shaped in a curved state and the curved shape is maintained. This eliminates the need for maintaining the curved state by insertion of the wire as employed before, and the suitable curved shape is substantialized so as to fit along the inferior edge portion 12 of the cup portion 10. The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion as described above can be provided with a breast holding function equivalent to that of the conventional hollow weave tape with the wire therein. Furthermore, the tape 14 can be manufactured without the work stage for insertion of the wire.

In the case of the conventional wire-inserted hollow weave tape, when it was subjected to a product test with a needle detector to detect a remaining needle, there was a problem that the detector was sensitive to the wire. In contrast to it, the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion uses no wire and is thus free from the problem that the detector is sensitive to the wire, which permits smooth execution of the product test.

Since the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is curved with use of the nonmetal materials only but without use of metal such as the wire, other resin materials, and so on, the curved tape can be substantialized with a reduced environmental load.

The present invention was specifically described above on the basis of the embodiment thereof, but it should be noted that the present invention is by no means intended to be limited solely to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the textile weaves were explained as plain weave fabrics 71, 72, but the curved tape may be one in which the textile weaves are other textile weaves, for example, such as twill weaves or satin weaves. The textile weaves may also be double weaves, warp backed weaves, weft backed weaves, and so on.

The aforementioned embodiment employed the “hot melt yarns (e.g., high-settability covered yarns)” as the warps 75 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o and the “non-hot melt yarns (e.g., low-settability covered yarns)” as the warps 74 in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i, but the tape may be configured by employing “non-hot melt yarns” as some of the warps in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o and “hot melt yarns” as some of the warps in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i. The point is that the curve inside region has the higher elasticity than the curve outside region. When the multi-ply woven fabric of the curved tape 14 is divided along the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction, the elasticity on one side is higher than that on the other side. Namely, the curve inside region has the higher elasticity.

The foregoing embodiment showed the curved tape 14 having undergone the dyeing process being the heating process, but it may be the curved tape having undergone the heating process different from the dyeing process. It may also be the curved tape not having undergone the heating process.

The above embodiment employed the hot melt yarns as the warps 75 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o, but it is also possible to adopt the curved tape not using the hot melt yarns as the warps in the curve outside portions. The point is that the curve inside region has the higher elasticity than the curve outside region. The elasticity difference may be given by any other method, e.g., by using different thicknesses of warps or different set draft of warps between the inside and outside in the curve direction.

The above embodiment showed the curved tape 14 in which the interfacing members 76 were arranged between the plurality of textile weaves, but it is also possible to adopt the curved tape without arrangement of the interfacing members 76. Furthermore, the embodiment showed the curved tape 14 in which the side end region 78 with the smaller number of warps than the multi-ply woven fabric 70 was formed as a wrinkle clearance, but it is also possible to adopt the curved tape without provision of the wrinkle clearance.

The above embodiment described the application of the curved tape 14 to the brassiere 1 being the cup-possessing women's clothing, but the cup-possessing women's clothing does not always have to be limited solely to the brassiere 1; for example, it may be applied to the cup portion of any other cup-possessing women's clothing such as swimwear, foundation, leotards, shirts, and underwear. The term “cup portion” herein embraces “part to cover a breast from the front”. It may be the cup portion configured integrally with another member to cover the wearer's body.

The above embodiment described the brassiere 1 as one for sports use, but the curved tape 14 may also be applied to other brassieres. For example, the curved tape of the present invention may be applied to brassieres to be worn by growing girls. Since the curved tape of the present invention uses no wire unlike the conventional ones, it can prevent the wearer from feeling uncomfortable due to hardness of the wire. For this reason, the curved tape of the present invention is particularly effective in application to the cup-possessing women's clothing to be worn in sports activity and to the cup-possessing women's clothing to be worn by growing girls inexperienced in use.

The above embodiment showed the configuration wherein the curved tape 14 was sewn along the inferior edge 12 of the cup portion 10, but the curved tape may be used as sewn along any other shape. In another garment, for example, the curved tape may be provided so as to fit along a curved shape of a figure. The curved tape may be used as sewn to any textile product or cloth product other than clothing.

The curved tape 14 may be attached to another object (e.g., the cup-possessing women's clothing) by any other method, e.g., adhesion with an adhesive, pressure bonding for attachment under pressure, and so forth. It may also be attached by a combination of two or more methods.

Example 1

The present invention will be described below in further detail with examples, by it should be noted that the present invention is by no means intended to be limited to these examples. The same description as that of the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion in the above embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic transverse sectional view of the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to an example of the present invention. The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to Example 1 is made using high-settability covered yarns as the hot melt yarns of wefts 73. The high-settability covered yarns are, for example, single covered yarns comprised of a polyurethane yarn which melts to adhere at 115° C., and having a nylon yarn wound as a covering around a core.

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion uses low-settability covered yarns as the non-hot melt yarns of warps 74 in the curve inside portions 71 i, 72 i. The low-settability covered yarns are, for example, single covered yarns comprised of a polyurethane yarn which does not melt to adhere at 115° C., and having a nylon yarn wound as a covering around a core. In Example 1, the low-settability covered yarns used are, for example, 840-denier yarns with the draft of 2.3 times (set draft on the covering machine). The polyurethane yarn not melting to adhere at about 115° C. can be, for example, ROICA (trade name, which is manufactured by ASAHI KASEI FIBERS CORPORATION).

The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion uses high-settability covered yarns as the hot melt yarns of warps 75 in the curve outside portions 71 o, 72 o. The high-settability covered yarns are, for example, single covered yarns comprised of a polyurethane yarn which melts to adhere at 115° C., and having a nylon yarn wound as a covering around a core. In the present example, the high-settability covered yarns used are, for example, 200-denier yarns with the draft of 2.0 times (set draft on the covering machine).

In the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion in Example 1, warps 80, for example, comprised of wooly nylon are arranged between the warps 74, 75. The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion in Example 1 is made using forty eight warps 74 of low-settability covered yarns, fifty one warps 75 of high-settability covered yarns, ninety five warps of wooly nylon arranged between warps 74, 75, seven warps 77 of wooly nylon to connect the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72, and forty interfacing yarns 76 of wooly nylon. Portions without interfacing yarn 76 between the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72 are hollow spaces extending in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing relations among the warps and wefts in the tape for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 7 (D) is a schematic view showing a positional relation among warps, interfacing yarns, and wefts during manufacture. In FIG. 7, “x” indicates situations where the warp 74, 75, 77, or 80 is located above the two upper and lower wefts 73 (a weft in the upper plain weave fabric 71 and a weft in the lower plain weave fabric 72), “Δ” does situations where the warp 74, 75, 80, or the interfacing yarn 76 is located midway between the two upper and lower wefts 73, and “•” situations where the warp 74, 75, 77, or 80 is located below the two upper and lower wefts 73.

FIG. 7 (A) is a texture diagram showing up-and-down motions of the warps and wefts in the upper plain weave fabric, FIG. 7 (B) a texture diagram showing up-and-down motions of the warps to connect the upper plain weave fabric and the lower plain weave fabric, interfacing yarns, and wefts, and FIG. 7 (C) a texture diagram showing up-and-down motions of the warps and wefts in the lower plain weave fabric.

The texture diagrams show the motions of the yarns as the curved tape 14 is viewed from top, and in the texture diagrams the illustrated lateral direction is the extending direction of the wefts 73 (the width direction X) and the illustrated vertical direction is the extending direction of the warps (the longitudinal direction Y). The texture diagrams are depicted so as to correspond to eight wefts 73, and it is noted that these are repeatedly arranged in the practical curved tape 14.

In FIG. 7 (A), the left two columns indicate a set of adjoining warps 74 (74 a, 74 b), 75 (75 a, 75 b), the warps 74 a, 74 b are alternately arranged in the curve inside portion 71 i, and the warps 75 a, 75 b are alternately arranged in the curve outside portion 71 o. The warps 74 a, 74 b, 75 a, 75 b move so as to alternately pass the upper and lower positions (“x” and “Δ”) with respect to the weft 73. For the adjacent warps 74 a, 74 b, 75 a, 75 b, the upper and lower positions are reverse.

In FIG. 7 (A), the right two columns indicate a set of adjoining warps 80 a, 80 b and these warps 80 a, 80 b are alternately arranged. The warps 80 a, 80 b move so as to pass the upper position by three wefts 73, then pass the lower position by one weft 73, and repeat this motion.

In FIG. 7 (B), the left column indicates the yarn 77 to connect the upper plain weave fabric 71 and the lower plain weave fabric 72. This yarn 77 moves so as to alternately pass the upper and lower positions (“x” and “•”) with respect to the two wefts 73 adjacent in the up-and-down direction Z. In FIG. 7 (B), the right column indicates the interfacing yarn 76. The interfacing yarn 76 moves so as to pass midway between the two wefts 73 adjacent in the up-and-down direction Z.

In FIG. 7 (C), the left two columns indicate a set of adjoining warps 74 (74 a, 74 b), 75 (75 a, 75 b), the warps 74 a, 74 b are alternately arranged in the curve inside portion 72 i, and the warps 75 a, 75 b are alternately arranged in the curve outside portion 72 o. The warps 74 a, 74 b, 75 a, 75 b move so as to alternately pass the upper and lower positions (“Δ” and “•”) with respect to the weft 73. For the adjacent warps 74 a, 74, 75 a, 75 b, the upper and lower positions are reverse.

In FIG. 7 (C), the right two columns indicate a set of adjoining warps 80 a, 80 b and these warps 80 a, 80 b are alternately arranged. The warps 80 a, 80 b move so as to pass the upper position by three wefts 73, pass the lower position by one weft 73, and repeat this motion.

Since the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion in Example 1 in this configuration substantializes the curved tape with the suitable curved shape along the inferior edge shape of the cup portion, it can be favorably curved without the use of the wire as needed before.

The conventional hollow weave tape for the wire loop used with insertion of the wire used polyurethane yarn for the warps only, and a mixture rate thereof was about 0-15%. The tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion according to the present embodiment uses polyurethane yarn with elasticity and with the high hot-melt property for the wefts 73 and polyurethane 5-10 times more than that before, for the warps 74, 75, whereby the mixture rate of polyurethane in the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is, for example, 50%. For this reason, the tape 14 for the inferior edge of the cup portion is configured to have resilience in the width direction X thereof after the polyurethane materials of the wefts and warps are thermally fused to each other.

The elongation of the curve inside region is preferably, for example, from 1.1 to 1.7 times and particularly preferably, for example, approximately 1.15 times that of the curve outside region.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 brassiere (cup-possessing women's clothing); 10 cup portion; 12 inferior edge portion of cup portion; 14 tape for inferior edge of cup portion (curved tape); 70 two-ply woven fabric (multi-ply woven fabric); 71 upper plain weave fabric (textile weave); 72 lower plain weave fabric (textile weave); 71 i, 72 i curve inside portions; 71 o, 72 o curve outside portions; 73 wefts; 74 warps in curve inside portions; 75 warps in curve outside portions; 76 interfacing yarns (interfacing members); 78 side end region; X width direction; Y longitudinal direction; Z thickness direction. 

1. A curved tape having a multi-ply woven fabric comprising a plurality of textile weaves superposed in a thickness direction, and curved in a width direction, wherein the multi-ply woven fabric has a curve inside region with a higher elasticity than an elasticity of a curve outside region.
 2. The curved tape according to claim 1, wherein hot melt yarns are used as wefts of the textile weaves, wherein a rate of use of hot melt yarns among warps of the textile weaves is larger in the curve outside region than in the curve inside region, and wherein the multi-ply woven fabric is treated by a heat treatment process.
 3. The curved tape according to claim 2, wherein the heat treatment process includes a dyeing process.
 4. The curved tape according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of interfacing members arranged between the plurality of textile weaves and extending in a longitudinal direction.
 5. The curved tape according to claim 1, wherein a side end region having a smaller number of warps than the multi-ply woven fabric is formed on the curve inside region.
 6. The curved tape according to claim 1, wherein the textile weaves are plain weave fabrics in which the warps and the wefts are vertically interwoven.
 7. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 1; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.
 8. The cup-possessing women's garment according to claim 7, wherein the curved tape has a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions, and is attached as expanded so as to fit along the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions.
 9. The curved tape according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of interfacing members arranged between the plurality of textile weaves and extending in a longitudinal direction.
 10. The curved tape according to claim 2, wherein a side end region having a smaller number of warps than the multi-ply woven fabric is formed on the curve inside region.
 11. The curved tape according to claim 4, wherein a side end region having a smaller number of warps than the multi-ply woven fabric is formed on the curve inside region.
 12. The curved tape according to claim 11, wherein hot melt yarns are used as wefts of the textile weaves, wherein a rate of use of hot melt yarns among warps of the textile weaves is larger in the curve outside region than in the curve inside region, and wherein the multi-ply woven fabric is treated by a heat treatment process.
 13. The curved tape according to claim 12, wherein the heat treatment process includes a dyeing process, wherein the textile weaves are plain weave fabrics in which the warps and the wefts are vertically interwoven.
 14. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 2; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.
 15. The cup-possessing women's garment according to claim 14, wherein the curved tape has a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions, and is attached as expanded so as to fit along the curved shape of the inferior edge of the cup portions.
 16. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 3; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.
 17. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 4; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.
 18. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 5; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.
 19. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 6; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions.
 20. A cup-possessing women's garment comprising: the curved tape as defined in claim 7; and a pair of right and left cup portions shaped so as to cover breasts, wherein the curved tape is attached along a curved shape of an inferior edge of the cup portions. 